Shaft coupling



H. R. ETZLER SHAFT COUPLING May 8, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25,1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. R; ETZLER SHAFT COUPLING May 8, 1951 FiledMarch 25, 1949 Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

3 This invention relates to power transmitting devices and, inparticular to shaft couplings for drivingly connecting and disconnectinga pair of rotary elements such as shafts.

-One object of this invention is to provide a rotary element couplingwhereby a driven element is normally drivingly disconnected from thedriving element, but wherein a driving connection is establishedimmediately upon applying pres-- sure to a control member of thecoupling.

Another object is to provide a rotary element.

coupling of the foregoin character wherein the coupling may be made toserve primarily as a clutch to transmit substantially all of the powerfrom the driving element to the driven element when full pressure isapplied to the control memher, but which will also serve as atransmission when a lower pressure is applied to the control member,permitting slippage and therefore transmission of only a part of theload; and which will further serve as a brake if one of the rotaryelements is connected to a stationary object such as the frame of avehicle.

Another object is to provide a rotary element coupling of the foregoingcharacter wherein the control member is mounted on a shaft which iseccentric to the driving and driven elements so that pressure on thecontrol member creates a crowding action between members rotating ondifferent centers of rotation, thereby causing the control member torotate in an orbital path and drivingly interconnect the driving anddriven elements.

Another object is to provide a rotary element coupling of the foregoingcharacter wherein the driving and driven elements are connected by crankor eccentric cam mechanisms through the control member, or by sprocketchains and sprockets, or by intermeshin gearing or by combinations ofsuch mechanisms.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section, partly in sideelevation, of a rotary element coupling employing crank mechanisms,according to a preferred form of the invention;

. Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 22 in Figure1;

. Figure 3 is a top plan view of the rotary element coupling shown inFigure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 44 in Figure1;

Figure 5 is a central vertical longitudinal section, partly in sideelevation, of a modified rotary element coupling employing chain andsprocket mechanism combined with crank mechanism;

Figure 6 is avertical cross-section through a portion of a furthermodified rotary element coupling employing intermeshing gearing in placeof one of the crank mechanisms of Figure 1, taken along the line 6-45 inFigure '7;

Figure 7 is a substantially horizontal section taken along the line 1-!in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a horizontal section partly in top plan view of a stillfurther modified rotary element coupling employing a crank mechanismcombined with a chain and sprocket mechanism in the reverse arrangementfrom the modification shown in Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a vertical cross-section of a still a further modificationof the control mechanism shown in Figure 2 but having external ratherthan internal contact between the control members; and

Figure 10 is a vertical cross-section, showing the control mechanismemployed in the modified coupling of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows a rotary elementcoupling, generally designated It, whereby a driving element H and adriven element I2, such as the shafts so designated in the drawing, aredrivingly connected or disconnected according to the action of thecontrol mechanism and the interconnecting mechanism described below. Thesection of the shafts El and 12 as driving and driven shafts is purelyoptional since the shaft i2 may serve as a driving shaft and the shaft Has a driven shaft, if so desired. The shafts II and I2 are journaled inbearings l3 and I4 respectively mounted on bearing brackets l5 and I6.

Keyed or otherwise drivingly secured to the shaft II is a rotatablesupporting structure, generally designated l1, including aneccentrically mounted plate I8 bored as at 9 to receive the shaft ll.Secured to the plate [3 are the axially extending bridge portions of asecond plate 2 l, as by the bolts 2 la. The second plate 2| is bored asat 22 to loosely receive the driven shaft I2. Journaled in a bore 23 inthe second plate 2| is a crank shaft 24. Drivingly secured to one end ofthe crank shaft 24 is a crank 25 having a crank pin 26 passing through abore 21 in a disc 28 (Figure 4) and held in place by a retaining collar29 pinned or otherwise secured to the crank pin 26. Journaled in bores30 and 3! (Figure 4) respectively in the disc 28 are the crank pins 32and 33 on the ends of the cranks 34 and 35 drivingly secured to crankshafts 36 and 31 connected to and journaled in bores 38 and 39 (Figure3) in the second plate 2|.

Journaled in the socket 46 in the inner end of the driving shaft II is acrank shaft lI coaxial with the shafts II and I2 and having a crank 42pinned or otherwise secured thereto (Figure 1). The crank carries acrank pin Q3 which is journaled in a bore 44 in the disc 28. The crankpin 43 on the opposite side of the disc 28 carries a crank 45 which ispinned or otherwise drivingly secured to the inner end of the drivenshaft I2. Pinned or otherwise drivingly secured to the opposite ends ofthe crankshafts 25, 35 and 3'1 are cranks 46, 47 and 46 respectivelycarrying crank pins 39, 56 and I journaled in bores 52, 53 and 54respectively in a control ring 55 (Figures 2 and 3). The control ring 55is provided with a circular aperture 56 (Figure 2) in which a disc orcam 51 is mounted, with a slight clearance between the two. Mounted in abore 58 in the disc 51 is a pin 59 (Figures 1 and 3) having a yoked endconnected by a pivot pin 56 to a link 6!, the opposite end of which isconnected by a pivot pin 62 mounted in an arm 63 which projects axiallyfrom the peripheral portion of a grooved pulley 64, the hub of which isloosely and slidably mounted on the driven shaft '52. Also mounted onthe pivot pin 62 is one end of a link 65, the opposite end of which ispivoted to a pivot pin 66 connected to the yoked end of a pin illmounted in a bore 68 in the upper end of an arm 69. The lower end of thearm 69 is bored as at Ill to receive the driven shaft I2, to which it ispinned or otherwise drivingly secured. The ring 55 is provided with ahub H which is bored as at 72 (Figure l) for the passage ofthe drivenshaft I2 which passes loosely through the bore I2. Engaging theperipheral groove 13 in the pulley 6 3 is the forked portion or shiftyoke i l of a shift rod I5. The latter is reciprocably mounted in a boreI6 parallel to the axis of the driven shaft I2 and contained in abearing TI mounted on the upper extension I8 of the bearing bracket I6(Figure 1') In the operation of the rotary element coupling I0, power isapplied to the driving shaft II and the driven shaft I2 is connected tothe load or machine which is to be driven. So long as axial pressure isnot applied to the shift rod I5, the driving shaft II. andplates I6 and2I rotate loosely and freely relatively to the driven shaft I2, and nopower is transmitted to the driven shaft I2. To transmit power andcouple the shafts I I and I2, the operator applies pressure to shift theshift rod I5 and shift yoke I4 to the left (Figures 1 and 3), shiftingthe grooved pulley 64 to the left and consequently moving its arm 63 andits pivot pin 62 to, the left. Since the pivot pin 66 is fixedly carriedby the arm 69, the toggle action upon the links GI and 65 tends to causethem to straighten out and consequently causes the pivot pin 60 to moveoutward until the disc or cam 57 is crowded against the bore 56 of thecontrol ring 55. If only a slight pressure is applied to the shift rodI5, a slippage occurs in the mechanism between the driving and drivenshafts II and I2. If, however, a sufficient- 1y firm pressure is appliedto the shift rod I5, the disc 51 is crowded tightly against the bore 56,of the control ring 55 so that slippage is prevented and the drivingshaft I I is drivingly connected to the driven shaft I2 in one-to-oneratio. Thus, merely by shifting the shift rod 15, the operator candrivingly connect or disconnect the driving and driven shafts I I and I2at will, and by varying the pressure applied to the shift rod 315, he

4 can obtain a controlled slippage between the driving and driven shaftsI I and I2.

The modified shaft coupling, generally designated 60, shown in Figure 5is identical in construction, for the most part, to the form of theinvention shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, particularly as regards theparts to the right of the line 54 in Figure 1, and corresponding partsare therefore designated with the same reference numerals. In place ofthe crank mechanism located between the plates I8 and 2I in Figure 1,however, the modification of Figure 5 employs chain and sprocketmechanism for transmitting the motion. In particular, the crank shaft 24is extended so that it is journaled not only in the bore 23 in the plate2I but also in a bore 8I. Pinned or otherwise drivingly secured to thecrank shaft 24 is a sprocket 82 drivingly connected by a sprocket chain83 to a sprocket 84 which is likewise pinned or otherwise drivinglysecured to the driven shaft I2.

Also secured in a similar manner to the shaft I2 is a second sprocket 85which is drivingly connected by a sprocket chain 86 to a sprocket 81.The latter is pinned or otherwise drivingly secured to the crankshaft 31which is extended in a manner similar to the crankshaft 24 so that it isjournaled not only in the bore 54 but also in a bore 89 in the plate I8.As in Figure 1, the cranks t6 and 18 transmit the motion onward to theparts shown to the right of the plate ZI, the crankshaft 36 and itscrank 41 of Figure 1 being omitted in Figure 5. The operation of themodification of Figure 5 is similar to that of Figure 1 and hencerequires no repetition, except that the motion is transmitted from thecrankshafts 24 and 31 to the driven shaft I2 by means of the sprocketchains 83 and 86 and the sprockets 82, 84 and 85, 81 instead of thecrank mechanism of Figure 1.

The modified shaft coupling, generally designated 90, shown in Figures 6and '7 is also generally similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 4inclusive and similar parts are likewise similarly designated withreference numerals. The shaft coupling 90, however, in place of thecrank mechanism of Figure 1 or the chain and sprocket mechanism ofFigure 5 located between the plates I8 and 2|, in Figures 6 and '7employs intermeshing gearing for transmitting the motion. In particular,the crankshafts 24, 36 and 3'! are extended across the space betweentheplates I8 and 2! journaled in bores 9|, 92 and 93. Only the bores 92and 93 are shown in Figure 7, which is a horizontal section takenapproximately in a plane, designated 1-"! in Figure 6, below .thecrankshaft 24, but the bore 9I is similar to the bore BI of Figure 5 andlocated in a similar position on the plate I8. Pinned or otherwisedrivingly secured to the crankshafts 24,36 and3l are gears 94, 95 and 96respectively meshing with idler pinions 91, 98 and 99 mounted onstubshafts or studs I00, IIII and I02. The plate I8 is provided with threeappropriately located bores I63, I64 and I 05 respectively for receivingthe stub shafts or studs I130, I501 and I62, only the bore I64 and theshaft or stud IUI being shown clearly in Figure 7.

Meshing with the idler. pinions .91., 98 and 99 is a central gear I66which in. turn is keyed or otherwise drivingly secured to the drivenshaft I2. The remainder of the mechanism is similar to that described indetail in connection with Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, and as theoperation-is mechanism of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

correspondingly similar, no repetition is necessary except to state thatthe motion is transmitted from the crankshafts 24, 36 and 3'! to thedriven shaft I2 by means of the crankshaft gears 94, 95 and 96, theidler pinions 91, 98 and 99 and the central gear I06.

The modified shaft coupling, generally designated III], shown in Figures8 and is, in substance, a reversal of the mechanism shown in the shaftcouplin 89 of Figure 5, in that the crank mechanism and chain andsprocket mechanisms are interchanged. In particular, the mechanism tothe left of the plate 2| is substantially the same as that shown inFigure 1 except that the crankshaft 36 is omitted, along crankshafts 24and 3'! are sprockets H5 and IIS respectively connected to doublesprockets II! and H8 on a common hub III! by sprocket chains I29 and I2Irespectively. The hub H9 of the twin sprockets Ill and H8 has a bore I22loosely receiving the driven shaft I2. Extending radially from the hubH9 is an arm I23 bored as at I24 to directly receive the pin 59 of thecontrol mechanism, the bore I24 in this respect correspondin to the bore58 of the disc or cam 57 (Figure 3). The remainder of the mechanism tothe right of the arm I23 including the toggle links 5| and 95 and thearm 69 (Figure 10) is substantially identical to that shown in Figure 3.

The operation of the modified shaft coupling II!) is also similar tothat of the shaft coupling I0 of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, except thatthe chains I29, I2I and the sprockets II5, II? and I I6, I I8 transmitthe motion instead of the crank So long as there is no force exerted onthe rod and the toggle links BI and 65 remain broken or at an angle toone another, the rotation of the shaft merely causes rotation of theplates i8 and 2I and their bridge portions 20. This in turn merelycauses the sprockets H5 and H6 to rotate in orbital paths around thesprockets II! and. H8 so that the sprockets II! and H8 remain motionlessas the chain merely wraps itself around one side of the sprocket whileit unwraps from the other side. Consequently, the driven shaft I2 failsto rotate and any mechanism to which it is connected is stationary.

When the operator shifts the control rod i5 and consequently the pulley64 to the left so as to straighten out the toggle links 68 and apply aforce to the arm I23 resisting the free rotation of the chain andsprocket mechanism, the thrust thus set up causes the entire assembly tothe right of the plate 2I to rotate, consequently transmitting thisrotation through the arm 99 to the driven shaft I2 for either directionof rotation. When the force on the control rod I5 is released, however,the toggle links 65 and BI resume their original positions shown inFigures 3 and 8 and no motion is transmitted to the shaft I2.

The modified control device, generally desig- In the coupling II9 ofFigure 8, the

nated. I39 shown in Figure 9 is similar in purthe periphery I13 of theeccentric ring I55, when the control rod I5 (not shown) and consequentlythe pulley arm 553 are pushed forward to straighten out the toggle linksI65 and I6I. The control device H39, may therefore be substituted forthe control device shown in FigureZ,v the difference being that inFigure 2, the disc 5'! acts like a cam forced into pressure contact withthe bore 56 in the ring 55, whereas in Figure 9, the roller H2 is pulledinward into contact with the periphery ill! of the ring I55,corresponding to the ring of Figure 2.

What I claim is:

1. A rotary element coupling comprising a first rotary element, a secondrotary element coaxial with said first rotary element and rotatableindependently thereof, a rotatable supporting structure drivinglyconnected to said first rotary element and rotatable therewith, aplurality of rotatable shafts iournaled in said structure on axes ofrotation spaced transversely from the axis of rotation of said rotaryelements, a rotatable control device loosely and rotatably mounted onsaid second rotary element for rotation independently thereof, a firstconnecting mechanism drivingly and rotatably connecting said shafts tosaid second rotary element, a second connecting mechanism drivingly androtatably connecting said shafts to said control device, one of saidmechanisms including cranks connected to said shafts and a connectingmember interconnecting said cranks, a reaction member connected to saidsecond rotary element and extending outwardly from the axis thereof, anda selectively operable coupling actuator operatively connecting anddisconnecting said control device respectively to and from said reactionmember.

2. A rotary element coupling comprising a first rotary element, a secondrotary element coaxial with said first rotary element and rotatableindependently thereof, a rotatable supporting structure drivinglyconnected to said first rotary element and rotatable therewith, aplurality of rotatable shafts journaled in said structure on axes ofrotation spaced transversely from the axis of rotation of said rotaryelements, a rotatable control device loosely and rotatably mounted onsaid second rotary element for rotation independently thereof, a firstconnecting mechanism drivingly and rotatably connecting said shafts tosaid second rotary element, a second connecting mechanism drivingly androtatably connecting said shafts to said control device, one of saidmechanisms including cranks connected to said shafts and a connectingmember interconnecting said cranks, a reaction member connected to saidsecond rotary element and extending outwardly from the axis thereof, anda selectively operable coupling actuator operatively connecting anddisconnecting said control device respectively to and from said reactionmember, said control device including a rotary member having an arcuatecontact surfac thereon and 7 a contact member connected to said actuatorandamovable thereby into and out of engage- .ment with said arcuatecontact surface.

3. A rotary element coupling comprising a first rotaryelernent, a secondrotary element coaxial with said first rotary element and rotatableindependently thereof, a rotatable supporting structure drivinglyconnected to said first rotary element and rotatable therewith, aplurality of rotatable shafts journaled in said structure on axes ofrotation spaced transversely from the axis of rotation of said rotaryelements, a rotatable control device loosely and rotatably mounted onsaid second rotary element for rotation independently thereof, a firstconnecting mechanism drivingly and rotatably connecting said shafts tosaidv second rotary element, a second connecting mechanism drivingly androtatably connecting said shafts to said control device, one. of saidmechanisms including cranks connected to said shafts and a connectingmember interconnecting said cranks, a reaction member connected to saidsecond rotary element and extending outwardly from the axis thereof, anda selectively operable coupling actuator operatively connecting anddisconnecting said control device respectively to and from said reactionmember, said control device tincludinga rotary annular member having an,arcuate internal contact surface thereon, and a contact memberconnected to said actuator and movable thereby into and out ofengagement with said arcuate contact surface.

4. A rotary element coupling comprising, a first rotary element, asecond rotary element coaxial with said first rotary element androtatable independently thereof, a rotatable supporting structuredrivingly connected to said first rotary eiement and rotatabletherewith, a plurality of rotatable shafts journaled in said structureon axes of rotation spaced transversely from the axis of rotation ofsaid rotary elements, a rotatable -control device loosely and rotatablymounted on said second rotary element for rotation independentlythereof, a first connecting mechanism dri-vingly and rotatablyconnecting said shafts to said second rotary element, a secondconnecting mechanism drivingly and rotatably connecting said shafts tosaid control device, one of said mechanisms including cranks connectedto said shafts and a connecting member interconnecting said cranks, areaction member connected to said second rotary element and extendingoutwardly from the :axis thereof, and a selectively operable couplingactuator operatively connecting and disconnecting said control devicerespectively to and from said reaction member, said control deviceincluding a rotary annular member having a circular internal contactsurface thereon, and a contact member connected to said actuator andmovable thereby into and out of engagement with said circular contactsurface.

5. A rotary element coupling comprising a first rotary element, a'secondrotary element coaxial with said first rotary element and rotatableindependently thereof, a rotatable supporting structure di-ivinglyconnected to said first rotary elemeht and rotatable therewith, aplurality of rotatable shafts journaled in said structure on axes ofrotation spaced transversely from the axis of rotation of said rotaryelements, a rotatable control device loosely and rotatably mounted onsaid second rotary element for rotation independently thereof, a firstconnecting mechanism drivingly and rotata-hly connecting said shafts tosaid second rotary element, a second connecting mechanism drivingly androtatably connecting said shafts to said control device, one of saidmechanisms including cranks connected to said shafts and a connectingmember interconnecting said cranks, and the other mechanism includingcranks connected at their inner ends to said shafts and at their outerends to said control device, a reaction member connected to said secondrotary element and extending outwardly from the axis thereof, and aselectively operable coupling actuator operatively connecting anddisconnecting said control device respectively to and from said reactionmember.

HARRY R. ETZLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 659,2'15 Williamson Oct. 9, 1900846,350 Rothe Mar. 5, 1907 1,610,935 Meek i Dec. 5, 1911 1,440,575Anderson Jan. 2, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 510,797 GreatBritain Aug. 8, 19,39

